MULALLEY & CO LTD v STO LTD AND ANOTHER

[2026] EWHC 2681 (TCC), Technology and Construction Court, Constable J, 20 October 2026

Default judgment – Whether contribution claim a claim for “a specified sum of money”

The present proceedings arose out of a claim brought under sections 130 and 149 of the Building Safety Act 2022 in respect of what were described as "past defaults relating to cladding products". The claimant in the present proceedings was the party against whom these earlier proceedings were brought and it was ordered to pay over £10 million in damages. The claimant responded by seeking a contribution from Sto UK Ltd but, when that entity entered administration, the claimant applied to amend its claim and join Sto Germany, being the parent company of Sto UK, to the proceedings. Permission was granted and service was effected through the Foreign Process Section. However, Sto Germany neither acknowledged service nor served a defence.